Refrigerator car



Aug. l2, 1941. c. E. cREDE REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed March 7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LDA. nw.

v In veni'or.- Charles E Crede Aug. 12, 1941. c. E. cREDE 2,252,226

REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed March 7,A 1940` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hlfl'ornqq`.

Patented Aug. l2, i941 as rarest ortica REFRIGERATOR CAR.

Application March 7, 1940, Serial No. 322,665

19 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerator cars used to transport perishable commodities at a predetermined temperature. The essential features of a refrigerator car are an insulated body to prevent or retard ingress of heat during warm Weather and egress of heat during cold weather, a cooling means and a heating means to be used during warm and cold weather respectively, and Ventilating means to supply air from outside the car during the transporting of certain types of commodities.

This invention applies particularly to cars in which the cooling means, preferably containers for water ice, eutectic ice, brine or dry ice, are disposed immediately below the roof of the car. The lading is supported in spaced relation to the door by a foraminous rack. Flues, preferably associated with the side walls of the car, communicate between the cooling means and the space under the floor rack to provide a path for the circulation of refrigerated air, The path is from the cooling means downwardly through the aforementioned fiues, through the space under the floor rack, upwardly through the lading compartment, thereby cooling the lading, and finally to the 4cooling means from where the cycle is repeated.

Many commodities, such as potatoes and melons, can be transported safely at any temperature within a relatively wide range and, therefore, do not require either heating or refrigeration at certain seasons of the year. Some commodities, including many types of fresh fruits and vegetables, give off heat of respiration during the ripening thereof. In either of these cases it is desirable to circulate fresh air from outside the car in close contact with the commodity to carry away the heat of respiration, thereby preventing excessively high temperatures with consequent spoilage. Ventilated box cars are often used for this purpose, particularly in the southern part of the country. A car also commonly used is a combination refrigerator, heater and ventilator.

An object of the invention is to provide means in an overhead bunker refrigerator car for supplying Ventilating or fresh air to the lading compartment of. the car, thereby carrying away the heat generated by certain types of lading, as hereinbefore described.

The hatch plugs or hatch covers of overhead bunker refrigerator cars are often partially opened so as to catch air moving exterior of the car and direct said air into the refrigerant container. The Ventilating means which I provide directs said air into the lading compartment o1 the car. Rain or snow may also be trapped by the raised hatch cover and injected into the refrigerant containers. An object of my invention is to permit the flow of the Ventilating airinto the lading compartment and to, prevent the entrance of the above mentioned rain or snow into the lading compartment.

Often during a trip of a refrigerator car it is desirable to cease refrigerating the car and to start Ventilating. In such cases the refrigerant containers usually have a certain amount vof liquid retained therein, `which liquid is liable to splash from therefrigerant container through the Ventilating apertures into the lading space of the car. A further object of my invention is the provision of means to prevent the splashing of such liquid into the lading compartment,

Another object is to provide means for returning to the refrigerant container the liquid which is trapped by the Ventilating device.

In a refrigerator car of the overhead bunker type relatively small apertures are often provided in the refrigerant containers for overflow of liquid refrigerant from the containers. This overiiowed liquid is directed into contact with the circulating air and cools and humidies said air. It is an object of my invention to provide relatively large apertures for flow of Ventilating air from the exterior of the car through the hatches and the refrigerant containers and into the lading compartment and to prevent the flow of liquid through said large apertures intothe lading compartment. I provide relatively small apertures ior the overflow of liquid from the containers intothe air duct for the purpose hereinabove described and I also provide means to direct into the air duct a part of the liquid which splashes through the large Ventilating apertures.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description by referring to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial transverse section of a refrigerator car embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to part of Fig. 1 show'- ing a modified form of Ventilating means.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the refrigerant container, as indicated by the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified construction.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the container on line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 show modified constructions.

The general parts of the refrigerator car shown in Fig. 1 are insulated roof 2; side wall 3; floor 4; hatch 5; refrigerant container 5; side wall flue 1; foraminous floor rack 8 and space 9 between rack 8 and floor 4. A refrigerant container 6 is positioned directly below the roof 2 and adjacent the side wall 3. A drip pan I2 is provided below the container 6 and a partition I4 is secured in an upstanding position at the edge of the drip pan I2. The drip pan I2 and partition I4 cooperate with the roof 2 and side wall 3 to form an enclosing structure II around the container 6, an air inlet opening I5 being provided by spacing the partition I4 from the roof 2. An air discharge opening I1 which leads to the flue 1 is formed by spacing the drip pan I2 from the wall 3. Cars of this type commonly have a row ofY refrigerant containers 6near each side wall 3 and spaced apart at the center of the car. The partitions I4 are also spaced apart to form a duct I6 which communicates between the lading compartment I8 and openings I5.

Air circulation during refrigeration is as follows: Air in the lading compartment I8 is warmed by Contact with the lading and rises to enter the enclosing'structure II through the duct I6 and thel air inlet opening I5. The air is cooled by contact with the refrigerant container 6 and falls by reason of its greater density through the discharge opening I1 and flue 1 to the space 9 Ywhence it'` rises through the rack 6 to the lading compartment I3;

The refrigerant containers shown in the drawings may be supported by any suitable means, as, for example, the means shown in Figs. 10 and 11 of co-pending Bonsall application Serial No. 286,138, filed July 24, 1939.

The refrigerator car shown in Figs. l and 4 has a trough 2I associated with a vertical vside wall 'of'a refrigerant container 6. The'trough 2l is formed by an angle member 23 comprising a horizontal' leg 24 secured to the wall 20 of the container 5' and an upstanding leg 26 in spaced relation to the wall 28. The upstanding leg 26 is attached to the top 21 of the container 6 at intervals by the'spaced apart straps 29, the leg 26 being spaced fromthe top 21 of the container a suitable distance to provide an air flow opening 38. The trough 2I lis thus formed with a part of the container wall 28 and the upstanding leg 26- forming the sides a, the horizontal leg 2li forming the bottomab and a portion of the top 21 of the container forming the top c.

Relatively large apertures 33 are provided in the wall 20 of the container 6 which also constitutes a side'a of the trough 2I to provide for air flow. A baille plate 35, preferably depending from the top c, is interposed between the sides a of the trough 2I in spaced relation to both sides a. The baiile plate 35 is preferably disposedV so that there is no direct opening between the apertures 33 in the container wall 20 and the opening 38 between the upstanding leg 26 and the top 21 of the container 6. Relatively small apertures 36 areprovided in the lower part of the trough 2|, preferably in the bottom b, for return of liquid therefrom to the interior of the container 6. Other relatively small apertures 38 are preferably provided in the container wall 26 below the trough 2I4 for overflow of liquid from the container 6'v to the drip' pan I2, where, during refrigeration, the overflowed liquid cools and humidifles air flowing through the duct 39 between the container 6 and the drip pan I2.

When the car is operating under refrigeration the liquid level within the container is substantially at the apertures 38 in the container wall 2U, or possibly a distance somewhat below the apertures 38, depending upon the violence of the service movements of the car. Occasional sudden movements of the car will cause a quantity of the liquid to splash through the opening 36 into the trough 2I where it is deflected by the baffle plate 35 to the lower part of the trough 2I and is drained through the relatively small apertures 36 back into the container 6. When it is desired to ventilata the car, the cover and plug are removed from the hatch 5 and air, as shown by the solid arrows 43, ilows through the hatch and is sometimes accompanied by rain or snow, as shown by the dotted arrows 44. The air and rain or snow then flow through the opening 38, the air continuing around the baie plate 35, as shown by the solidV arrows, and through the duct I6 into the lading compartment I8 of the car. The accompanying rain or snow is deflected by the baille plate 35 to the lower part of the trough ZI and thence is drained through the apertures 36 into the refrigerant container 6 from where it may be disposed of by any suitable means.

Fig. 3 shows a construction in which the principle of operation is substantially the same as that of Fig. 1. In this case, however, the trough 56 is disposed exterior of the container 6 and is formed'of an angle piece 5I having a horizontal leg 53 secured to the container 6 and an upstanding leg 54 spaced exterior of the container wall 20. A cover plate 56, preferably secured to the top 21 of the container 6 and overhanging the trough 56, provides a top for said trough. The cover plate 56 is disposed in spaced relation to the upper edge 51 of the upstanding leg 54 and is secured thereto at intervals by the spaced apart straps 59. The baffle plate 60 in this case depends from the cover plate 56 and is disposed between the apertures 62 in the container 6 and i the opening 63 between the cover plate 55 and the upstanding leg 54. Relatively small apertures 55 are provided in the part 66 of the container wall 26, which also constitutes a side of the trough 58 for return of liquid from the trough 58 to the container 6. As in Fig. 1, solid arrows indicate the path of air flow and dotted arrows indicate the path of liquid flow,

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the trough 18, which is associated with the container wall 28, is formed by a channel member 1I having the web 13 disposed substantially vertical and the free edges of the flanges 14 secured to the container wall 23. Relatively large apertures 16 are provided in av portion of the container wall 26V which also constitutes a side d of the trough 16 and in the upper channel flange 14 which con'- stitutes the top e of the trough 16 to allow ventilating air to ow in the manner indicated by the solid arrows 19. The baffle plate 88 is disposed between the apertures 16 in the trough side d and in the trough top e in spaced relation to both of saidapertures. An opening 62 is provided in the bottom ,f o-f the trough 18 and a-conduit 83, which is preferably secured to the container wall 20, leads from the opening 82 downwardly to adjacent the drip pan i2. The bottom' f of the trough 18 may be sloped downwardly toward the opening 82as shown in Fig. 6. As indicated by the dotted arrows 85; liquid which splashes through the apertures 16 in the containerwall 28is deflected by the baille plate 80 into the lower part of the trough and is eventually drained into the conduit 83 and thence flows on to the drip pan I2. The conduit 83 tends to eliminate any tendency for liquid to splash from the trough 1l] into the duct i6 and thence into the lading compartment The trough 81 shown in Fig. 7 is similar structurally to that shown in Fig. 3. However, the small apertures 38 in the container wall 20 of Fig. 3 are not provided in the construction shown in Fig. '1. Instead apertures 88 are provided in the bottom 90 of the trough 81 and the bottom 9G preferably slopes downwardly toward the apertures 88. It is apparent that the arrangement shown in Fig. 7 retains a considerably greater quantity of liquid in the container than the construction shown in Fig. 3 because the apertures -88 are higher than the apertures 38. Liquid then overflows through the apertures 65 in the container wall and thro-ugh the apertures 88 in the trough bottom 9U and cools and humidiiles air flowing through the duct 39 as hereinabove described. When a large quantity of liquid splashes through the relatively large apertures 62 in the container wall 28 the liquid is deflected by the baille plate 6i) to the lower part of the trough 81, some of the liquid draining through the apertures 65 in the container wall 2D back into the container 6 and another part of the liquid draining through the apertures 88 in the trough bottom 98 to the duct 39, thereby cooling and humidifying the circulating air.

The arrangement shown in Fig, 8 operates in a manner substantially similar to that of Fig. 7. structurally, however, the trough is disposed somewhat below the top 21 of the container 6 and theutilization of the container wall ilanges 96 eliminates the necessity for a cover plate, as shown in Fig. '1, and, therefore, provides a somewhat more rigid construction.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of the claims, will occur to persons Skilled in the art.

I claim:

1, In a refrigerator car having a lading compartment and a roof, a refrigerant container be low said roof, having a bottom and spaced apart walls, a hatch in said roof communicating between said container and the exterior of the car,

a trough having a bottom and spaced apart sides and being associated with one of said container Walls, an aperture in one side of said trough leading to the interior of the container, an aperture in the other side of said trough leading to the exterior of said container and a baille plate interposed between said sides in spaced relation thereto.

2'. In a refrigerator car having a lading compartment and a roof, a refrigerant container below said roof, having a bottom and spaced apart walls, a hatch in said roof communicating between said container and the exterior of the car, a trough having a bottom and spaced apart sides and being associated with the upper part of one of said container walls, an aperture in one side of said trough leading to the interior of the container, an aperture in the other side of said trough leading to the exterior of said container and a baille plate interposed between said sides in spaced relation thereto.

Y3. In a' refrigerator car having a lading compartment and a roof, a refrigerant container below said roof, having a bottom and 'spaced apart walls, a hatch in said roof communicating between said container and the exterior of the car, a trough having a bottom and spaced apart sides and being associated with one of said container walls, a relatively large aperture in the upper part of one side of said trough leading to the interior ofthe container, a relatively large -aperture in the other side of said trough leading to the exterior of said container, a. baille plate interposed between said sides in spaced relation thereto and a relatively small aperture in the lower part of said trough leading to the interior of said container.

4. In a refrigerator car having a lading compartment and a roof, a refrigerant container below said roof, having a bottom and spaced apart walls, a hatch in said roof communicating between said container and the exterior of the car, a drip pan below said container, a trough having a bottom and spaced apart sides and being associated with one of said container walls, a relatively large aperture in the upper part of one side of said trough leading to the interior of the container, a relatively large aperture in the other side of said trough leading to the exterior of said container, a baille plate interposed between said sides in spaced relation thereto and a relatively small aperture in the lower part of said trough leading to the exterior of said container.

5. In a refrigerator car having a lading compartment and a roof, a refrigerant container below said roof, having a bottom and spaced apart walls, a hatch in said roof communicating between said -container and the exterior of the car, a drip pan below said container, a trough having a bottom and spaced apart sides and being associated with one of said container walls, a relatively large aperture in the upper part of one side of said trough leading to the interior of the container, a relatively large aperture in the other side of said trough leading to the exterior of said container, a baille plate interposed between said sides in spaced relation thereto, a relatively small aperture in the lower part of said trough leading to the interior of said container and another relatively small aperture in the lower part of said trough leading tothe exterior of said container.

6. In a refrigerator car having a lading compartment and a roof, a refrigerant container below said roof, having a bottom and spaced apart walls, a hatch in said roof communicating between said container and. the exterior of the car, a drip pan below said container, a trough having a bottom and spaced apart sides and being associated with one of said container walls, a relatively large aperture in the upper part of one side of said trough leading to the interior of the container, a relatively large aperture in the other side of said trough leading to the exterior of said container, a baille plate interposed between said sides in spaced relation thereto, a relatively small aperture in the lower part of said trough leading to the interior of said container and another relatively small aperture in the lower part of said trough leading to the exterior of said container, the bottom of said trough sloping downwardly toward said last mentioned aperture.

7. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein a part of the last mentioned container wall also comprises the last mentioned side of said trough.

8. A structure as dened in claim 1 wherein a part of the last mentioned container Wall also comprises theirst mentioned side ofA said trough. 9. In a .refrigerator car having a lading compartmentand a roof, a refrigerant container below theV roof having a bottom and spaced apart walls, a hatch in said 4roof leading to the interior of said container, a trough. associated with one of the container walls and arranged to provide for flow of air from said container through said trough torthe'lading compartment, means to divertinto said trough liquid accompanying said air, and 'means to. return said liquid to said container.

l0. In a refrigerator car having a lading compartment and a roof, a refrigerant container comprising a bottom and spaced apart walls being disposed below said roof, a hatch in said roof communicatingrbetween said container and the exterior of the car for loading refrigerant, a drip pan below said container, an aperture in a container wall for flow of Ventilating air from the hatch `to the lading compartment, means to trap relatively large quantities of liquid which splash through said aperture, and means to overflow relatively small quantities of liquid from said container to said drip pan.

1l. A refrigerant container adapted for use in a refrigerator car wherein one side of said container is formed bya structure including a horizontally extending and upwardly opening trough having spaced apart sides, openings arranged to permit air flow between the interior and the eX- terior of said'container, means to direct splashing liquid within the container into said trough, and means to drain liquid from the trough into the container,

12. A refrigerant container adapted for use in a refrigerator car wherein one side of said container is formed by a structure including a horizontally extending and upwardly opening trough having spaced apart sides, openings arranged to permit air flow between the interior and the eX- terior of said container, and means to direct splashing liquid within the container into said trough.

13. A refrigerant container adapted for use in a refrigerator car whereinone side of said container is formedl by a structure including a pair of spaced apart members having openings arranged to permit air flow between the interior and the exterior ofsaid container, and means arranged to prevent passage of liquid through said openings.

14. A refrigerant container adapted for use in a refrigerator' car wherein one side of said container is formed by a structure including a pair of spaced apart members having openings arranged to permit air flow between the interior and the exterior of said container, and a baffle plate interposed between said members in alignment with said openings to prevent escape of liquid from said container.

l5. A refrigerant container adapted for use in a refrigerator car, said container having a bottom and upstanding walls, an aperture in said wall, and a baffle plate disposed in spaced relation to said wall in alignment with said aperture and inside the container.

16. A refrigerant container adapted for use in a refrigerator car, said container having a bottom and upstanding walls, an aperture in said wall, a baille plate disposed in spaced relation to said wall in alignment with said aperture, and means arranged t0 receive liquid defiected by said baille plate.

17. A refrigerant container adapted for use in a refrigerator car, said container having a bottom and upstanding walls, an aperture in said wall and a baie plate disposed in spaced relation to said wall in alignment with said aperture and outside the container, and a trough arranged to receive liquid deflected by said baille plate.

18. In a refrigerator car having a lading compartment and a roof, a refrigerant container belOW said roof having a bottom and upstanding Walls, a hatch in said roof leading to the interior of the container, means associated with one of said walls arranged to provide a tortuous and generally horizontal passage for flow of air between the interior and exterior of said container, and means to receive liquid trapped by said tortuous passage.

19. In a refrigerator car having a lading compartment and a roof, a refrigerant container below said roof having a bottom and upstanding walls, a hatch in said roof leading to the interior of the container, a trough adjacent one of said walls arranged to provide a path therethrough for flow of air between the interior and exterior of said container, means to direct liquid into said trough, and means to drain the liquid from said trough into said container.

CHARLES E. CREDE. 

